Lectures

In southern Germany, a few miles from both the Austrian and Swiss borders, there is a hamlet by the name of Wigratzbad. The tiny little town became a Marian pilgrimage site in the early 20th Century after a series of Marian apparitions began in 1918 and continued to 1936. The…

How often has this happened to you: You’re watching a movie, and all of a sudden you get this feeling like you know what’s going to happen next. And then, you’re right. “Ha! Called it!” And if it happens often enough, you start to feel like you have some sort…

We take it for granted that earth is uniquely created to sustain life. More than just the right mix of gases in the air we breathe, but even just the change of seasons that are necessary for the cycle of life is something we almost never think about. The earth’s…

There are two kinds of people in the world: the kind who need alarm clocks in the morning, and the kind who don’t. Those of you who need an alarm clock start your day with an annoying, unwelcome interruption to your sleep. You groggily hit the snooze button as many…

In 315 BC, King Cassander of Macedon established the capital of Macedonia in the ancient Greek port town of Therma. As was popular among conquering rulers, he renamed it, in his case he renamed it for his wife who was the half-sister of Alexander the Great. Its inhabitants adapted to…

As a kid, Christmas is about one thing: presents. Thinking back to the days of our youth, everyone can recall a Christmas where you were hoping and dreaming for a very specific Christmas present. Maybe it was a bike, or a video game, or a Red Ryder carbine-action two hundred…

Can there be a more popular spice than cinnamon? It’s found in everything from toothpaste to French toast, and especially this time of the year it is one of the most frequently used spices. Sweet potato casserole wouldn’t be right without cinnamon. If it’s missing from apple or pumpkin pie…

As with many traditions, dressing up in costumes for Halloween has a history that blends pagan rituals with the celebration of Catholic feasts. In medieval times, the Celts would celebrate Samhain — the end of summer — on October 31st with costumes and animal sacrifices. The next day, Catholics celebrate…

“We are now standing in the face of the greatest historical confrontation humanity has ever experienced. I do not think that the wide circle of the American Society, or the whole wide circle of the Christian Community realize this fully. We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church…

When you first move into a house, there are a number of things you do right away to make it your own. You paint the walls, arrange your furniture, and plant some of your favorite plants. Then comes the more tedious task of choosing window treatments. Curtains or blinds? If…